Largo man faces murder charges in wife’s death

CLEARWATER — A Largo man was charged with killing his wife after police say he beat and chocked her to death on Sunday night and then told a neighbor about it.

Robert Louis Pierson, 69, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Mary Pierson, 47, according to an arrest report. He was also charged with violation of probation for a prior battery charge.

Robert Pierson had been drinking alcohol at his home in the 7300 block of Ulmerton Road about 9:30 p.m. when he became angry with his wife, the report said.

Pierson struck his wife before choking her, the report said.

He told police that she got away, but he managed to “subdue the victim again and held her on the ground while he choked her for several minutes,” the report said.

She died of apparent blunt force trauma, police said.

Robert Pierson then told a neighbor he had just killed his wife, the report said.

The neighbor called police who arrived and found the body of Mary Pierson in the trailer where they lived, according to the report.

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